Portable refreshment cooler



NOV. 15, 1955 D JONES PORTABLE REFRESHMENT COOLER Filed NOV. 22, 1954 Eiy.

United States Patent PORTABLE REFRESHNIENT COOLER J. D. Jones, Los Alamos, N. Mex.

Application November 22, 1954, Serial No. 47%,4'71

4 Claims. (Cl. 62-75) The instant invention relates to cooling devices such as ice boxes and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device for a transportation of bottled and canned refreshmentsin a cool condition upon and about a golf course whereby persons during a playing of golf may partake of said refreshments anywhere upon said course.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cooler having means for attaching the cooler to the frame of a wheeled caddy cart such as is conventionally employed for transportation of a bag of golf clubs or the like and in a manner whereby the cooler of the instant invention is disposed in an approximately vertical position with respect to the frame of an inclined golf club cart for preventing a spilling of ice water from the cooler during a removal of the contents of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the above described purposes and for a ready transportation of ice therein, together with cans or bottles of refreshments, the said device being insulated with respect to thermal conditions, and to provide a means for facilitating a removal of the contents of the cooler from the interior of the latter and without a golf player plunging his hand and forearm into ice water or the like within the new device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device for the above-stated purposes having a strap to which a shoulder pad may be readily attached, at desired times, for facilitating a manual transportation of the cooler comfortably to andfrom a golf course and prior to use on said course.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the new device, certain portions thereof being broken away and others depicted in section.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken approximately on the line 22 of Figure l and depicting a top plan view of a foraminated disc-tray employed.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the.

new device, certain portions thereof being broken away and other depicted in section.

Figure 4 is a semi-diagrammatic view of the new de vice attached to an inclined frame of a wheeled golf club caddy cart, the latter being depicted by means of broken lines.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a shoulder pad preferably employed during transportation of the new device to and from a golf course.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above referred to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner de- 2,723,535 Patented Nov. 15, 1955 parting from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout and in which the numeral 10 refers to the invention in its entirety and 12 indicates a container. The container 12 is preferably of hollow cylindrical construction, having bottom 14 which is integral with its annular side wall. The top of the container is normally open, the rim of said container being indicated at 16. The container 12 is preferably formed of suitable sheet metal or plastic materials as may be desired.

The new device further includes a closure member 15 for the open top of the container 12. As best shown in Figure 3 the closure member 15 is provided with an annular flange 17 which snugly engages the annular side wall of the container 12. Preferably the closure member 15 is shaped to provide a recess 19, said shape reinforces the closure member and also provides room for an operators fingers to be readily placed about and grasp the transversely disposed handlebar 21 disposed in said recess for facilitating a removal of the closure member at desired times.

The annular side wall and the bottom 14 of the container 12 are provided with one or more laminations of suitable thermal insulating material such as felt or the like indicated at 18. Exteriorly of the insulation a canvas housing 20 is preferably provided for protecting the insulation from attrition during use. If desired, the housing may be stitched to the said insulation.

Adjacent to the bottom end of the container an annular buffer ring 24 is provided having a portion 22 which extends from the annular side of the bulfer toward the medial portion of the container said extension being indicated at 22. The buffer is preferably formed of leather or a like suitable stout material. A further buffer ring 26 is disposed around the container adjacent to the top of the latter. Said buffers may be riveted or stitched or otherwise suitably secured to the housing 20 and the insulation 18.

A flexible leather hinge strap 28 is provided having one of its end portions attached to the buffer ring 26 by any suitable means such as the rivets 30. The other end of the hinge is similarly attached to the annular wall portion 32 of a cover 34. The inwardly disposed surface of the cover 34 is preferably provided with a lamination 36 of insulating material which is stitched or otherwise suitably secured thereto.

As best shown in Figure 1 a buckle 38 is provided together with a buckle strap 40. One end of the strap 40 is stitched or otherwise suitably secured to the annular wall portion 32 of the cover. The other end of the strap 40 is secured to the buckle 38. A tongue 42 is provided having an end stitched to the buffer 26. The free end of the tongue is provided with a row of apertures a selected one of which receives the tang 44 of the buckle for fastening the cover to the buffer 26 at desired times.

At times when the buckle and strap 42 are disengaged from each other the cover may be moved from its full line position shown in Figure l to the dotted line position thereof shown in said figure, or the cover may be swung to a fully open position with respect to the container on its flexible hinge 28 for permitting a removal of the contents of the container 12 at times when the closure member 15 for the container is first removed whereby ice or refreshments may be placed in the container or removed therefrom.

The new device further includes a disc-tray 46 through which a multiplicity of comparatively minute apertures 47 are disposed. A rod is provided having a main body portion 48. The rod is bent with respect to the portion 48 to provide oppositely disposed like arms 50 and 52 which, together with said main body portion define, in side elevation, an approximately C-shaped configuration. The lower ends of the arms are secured to the disc 46 by any suitable means such as extending the free ends of said arms through the disc and then peening said ends as indicated at 54 in Figure 3.

The length of the arms 50 and 52 are such that at the time the disc 46 is disposed upon or closely adjacent to the bottom of the container 12, the main body portion 48 provides a handle disposed closely adjacent to the closure member 15 for the mouth of the container whereby an operator may grasp the handle portion of 48 for moving the disc upwardly together with the contents of the container disposed upon said disc-tray and after first removing the closure member 15 together with opening the cover 34.

It will be understood that, in this manner, cans or bottles of refreshment may be moved upwardly toward the top of the container for a manual removal from said tray while at said time ice water within the container will pass through the apertures 47 of the disc-tray and remain in said container. During upward movement of the disc 46, small as well as large particles of ice will also be moved upwardly and within reach of a golf player in the event that the latter desires to employ a piece of ice for refreshment purposes. As thus described it will be noted that contents of the container may be removed at times when the container is vertically disposed and without spilling said ice water and without the necessity of said player plunging his hand and forearm into the ice water whereby said players shots are not affected by chilled hands.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the new device further includes like strap-supports 56 and 57 which are disposed in parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the container and at opposite sides of the latter, the ends of said strap-supports being respectively secured by means of rivets 58 to the buffer ring 24 at the lower end of the container and to the buffer ring 26 adjacent to the upper end of the container.

As best shown in Figure 1 the lower portion of the said strap-supports are each provided with a loop 60. The ends of said loops are respectively secured by means of rivets or the like 62 to the supports 56 and 57.

An anti-sway-strap 64 is slidably disposed through said detent loops 60. One end of the strap 64 is provided with a row of spaced apertures 66 and the other end thereof is secured to a buckle 68 whereby said ends of the antisway-strap 64 may be joined together for purposes later described.

Adjacent to the other end of the container a link-strap 70 is provided having an end which is pivotally secured to a pivot pin 72. The latter is suitably attached to the strap-support 56 as best shown in Figure l.

The new device further includes a hinge-strap 74 which is similarly pivotally secured as at 73 to the strap-support 57 as best shown in Figure 2. The hinge-strap 74 is provided with a row of apertures 76 and the linkstrap 70 is provided with a buckle 78 for joining the free ends of said straps together for purposes later described.

Referring to Figure l the strap-support 56 is provided with a carrying pocket 80 suitably stitched thereto. The pocket 80 snugly receives therein an opener device 82 for facilitating the opening of metal cans or the like containing refreshments carried within the container 12 and upon the tray-disc 46.

Referring to Figure the shoulder pad 51 is formed of a suitable flexible material having incisions to provide a plurality of transversely disposed spaced bridges 53 for receiving a portion of the strap 64 under said bridges and over the main body portion of the pad. To that side of the pad which is opposite with respect to incisions sheeps skin 55 is stitched to the pad. During transportation of the cooler to and from a golf course or to and from an automobile to a golf course a shoulder pad 51 is disposed upon a carriers shoulder for supporting the load comfortably, said load being carried by the strap 64.

Referring to Figure 4 the frame 84 of a golf caddy cart 86 is represented by means of broken lines. One end of the frame is secured to an axle having spaced wheels 88 in a well known manner. The other end of the frame is provided with oppositely disposed handles 90 for manually towing the cart over the surface of a golf course from one hole to another. A bag is indicated at 92 for facilitating the transportation of golf clubs therein, said bag being removably attached to the cart.

Operation Assuming that ice has been placed in the container 12 and upon the disc-tray 46, together with cans and bottles of refreshment beverages, the new device is then attached to the frame 84 in a particular manner conducive to the best results complemental to the cooperative arrangement of the attaching straps of the new device.

The hinge-strap 70 is placed over the frame 84 at any desired point with respect to the longitudinal length of said frame. The link-strap 70 is then attached to the hinge-strap 74 by means of the buckle 7S and in a manner whereby the cover 34 of the new device is closely disposed with respect to said frame. The free ends of the anti-sway-strap 64 are then placed over said frame and joined together in a manner whereby the container will be approximately vertically disposed, as shown in Figure 4 since the member 64 is of sufficient length to permit the same during turning movements of the container on its pivot pins 72 and 73 and at times when said frame is inclinedly disposed as outlined in Figure 4.

As thus described it will be understood that the contents of the container are readily accessible and without the contents thereof, including ice water, becoming spilled from the container during use.

The strap 64 may be attached to the frame 84 in a manner whereby it is of greater or lesser length for disposing the lower end of the container closer to or farther away from said frame complemental to the degree of inclination of the frame and in accordance with the height of an operator supporting the carts handles during a refreshment period.

The straps 64, 70 and 74 may also be employed for attaching the new device in a stationary vertical position to any part of an automobile including the trunk of the vehicle during a transportation of the new device to and from a golf course club house.

From the foregoing specification, it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and in an economical manner and that its simplicity, accuracy and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device, considering what it will accomplish and that it will find an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

1. A portable refreshment cooler for use in connection with a golf club cart comprising a hollow cylindrical container having a closed bottom and a normally open top; a cover for said top; an anti-sway-strap carried by said container adjacent to the bottom thereof; means for securing the ends of said strap together and to a lower portion of the frame of said cart; a link-strap having an end pivotally attached to said container adjacent to the top of the latter; a hinge-strap having an end pivotally attached to said container, the pivot pins for said link and hinge straps being disposed at opposite sides of the container; and means for attaching the free ends of said link and hinge straps together and to an upper portion of said frame, the cooperative arrangement of said straps and pivots being such that the cooler is suspended from said frame in an approximately vertical position without undue swaying movements of the cooler at times when said frame is inclinedly disposed.

2. A refreshment cooler as described in claim 1 which further includes a tray slideably disposed within the container, said tray being provided with a plurality of apertures disposed therethrough; and manually actuatable means for causing said tray to slide.

3. A refreshment cooler as described in claim 1 in which the container is provided with insulation.

4. A portable refreshment cooler for use in connection with a golf club cart comprising a hollow cylindrical container having a closed bottom and a normally open top; a removable closure member for said top; a canvas housing disposed about said container; a lamination of insulating material disposed between the wall of said container and said housing; an insulated cover for said closure member; spaced buffers disposed angularly about the container exteriorly of said housing, said buffers being disposed respectively adjacent to the top and bottom of said container, said cover being provided with a flexible hinge having an end attached to the buffer which is adjacent to said top; means for securing said cover in closed position with respect to said top at desired times; a foraminated tray-disc slideably disposed in said container; manually actuatable means normally within the container and attached to said traydisc for moving the latter toward the top of said container; like strap-supports respectively disposed at opposite sides of the container having their ends respectively secured to said spaced buffers, the ends of the strapsupports adjacent to the bottom of the container each being provided with a loop; an anti-sway-strap disposed through said loops; means for attaching the free ends of said anti-sway-strap together; a link-strap having an end pivotally attached to one of said strap-supports; a hinge strap having an end pivotally attached to the other strap-support; means for attaching the free ends of said link and hinge straps together, the cooperative arrangement of said straps and pivots being such that the cooler may be suspended from the frame of said cart in an approximately vertical position without undue swaying movements thereof with respect to said frame at times when said frame is inclinedly disposed during said use and transportation of the assemblage about a golf course.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,569,157 Thompson Jan. 12, 1926 2,582,435 Howard Jan. 15, 1952 2,652,698 Schlumbohm Sept. 22, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 225,415 Germany July 13, 1909 

